Transfer windows tend to bring worries for Tottenham fans about the way Daniel Levy does business.
His desire to get a fair deal for his club more often than not leads to deals getting done late in the window; saving money but depriving the new arrival of crucial pre-season time to assimilate with his team-mates.
The exception was Tanguy Ndombele last summer, who had plenty of time to get used to life at Tottenham but had an underwhelming first campaign.
There have been reports about the Frenchman’s future this summer – including from the Guardian, who claimed Inter are interested – but we’ve three reasons Ndombele he could come good next term if Spurs keep faith.
He’s a risk taker
Jose Mourinho’s teams prioritise defensive stability over attacking flair, often relying on individual brilliance at the sharp end of the pitch.
Ndombele plays high risk, high reward passes, similar to Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, albeit from a deeper role.
That may mean he gives the ball away a lot but it should also create openings for Tottenham’s front players.
This is a Spurs midfield which is not exactly packed with creativity and Ndombele’s skillset is something they need.
He wants to stay
This isn’t the case of a player getting his people to make noises that he wants out.
The Telegraph reported as early as May that Ndombele wanted to stay in north London and fight for his place.
That is exactly the right attitude and if he knuckles down, Mourinho should be impressed enough to give him the games he needs.
There’s no point keeping players who don’t want to stay, but Ndombele doesn’t fall into that category.
He could finally replace Dembele
Tottenham haven’t really replaced Mousa Dembele’s strength and close control since he left back in January 2019.
He tries to beat players in possession and if he sticks to doing that in the right areas, there aren’t many central midfielders who can do that in the Premier League, let alone at Spurs.
It was a huge show of faith to make Ndombele their record signing and now Tottenham should show yet more to give him at least another season to prove his worth.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
